
2.
The direction of the eye shows the purpose of the man, and
the laying up of treasures shows the affections of the heart. He
who has' a single purpose to do God's will and steadfastly looks
to God, will be guided and filled with the light of God. He
whose purpose is turned upon the low, dark ambition of selfish-
ness, worldliness, and sin will become a body of darkness.
3.
"Christ does not say that man will not or shall not serve
two masters, but that he
can not....
No one can occupy a neutral
position; there is no middle class, who neither love God nor
serve the enemy of righteousness. .. . The strongest bulwark of
vice in our world is not the iniquitous life of the abandoned sinner
or the degraded outcast; it is that life which otherwise appears
virtuous, honorable, and noble, but in which one sin is fostered,
one vice indulged."—"Thoughts
from the Mount of Blessing,"
pp. 130,
140.
4.
Jesus anticipated that some would be tempted to believe
that they can not get clothing or food unless they serve the
world or themselves. His effort in all this instruction is to lead
men to the higher service alone, that of God. Whatever we do,
do it as unto God, and leave results with Him. "Take no thought"
is better expressed in the Revised Version, "Be not anxious."
The word means anxious, troubled, worried thought. So also in.
verses 27, 28, 35, and 34.
5.
"Consider, says Jesus, how the lilies grow ; how, springing
from the cold, dark earth, or from the mud of the river bed, the
plants unfold in loveliness and fragrance. Who would dream of
the possibilities of beauty in the rough brown bulb of the lily?
But when the life of God, hidden therein, unfolds at His call
in the rain and the sunshine, men marvel at the vision of grace
and loveliness. Even so will the life of God unfold in every
human soul that will yield itself to the ministry of His grace,
which, free as the rain and the sunshine, comes with its benedic-
tion to
all."—"Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing," P.
,1
44.
6.
It is the gentiles, nations of the world, who seek such things,
whose hopes are only temporal, earthly. The children of God
should have higher objectives. "'Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added
unto you.' I'have come to open to you the kingdom of love and
righteousness and peace. Open your hearts to receive this
kingdom, and make its service your highest interest. Though it
is a spiritual kingdom, fear not that your needs for this life
will be uncared for. . . .
"Jesus does not release us from the necessity of effort, but
He teaches that we are to make Him
.
first and last and best in
everything. We are to engage in no business, follow no pursuit,
seek no pleasure, that would hinder the outworking of His
righteousness in our character and life. Whatever we do, is to
be done heartily, as unto the Lord."—/d.,
pp. 147,148.
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